Friday, May 24, 2019

American pikaOchotona princeps
The American pika, known in the 19th century as the "little chief hare,"
is found in the mountains of western North America from central British
Columbia and Alberta in Canada to the US states of Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California and New
Mexico.They live in boulder fields at or above the tree line. They are
herbivorous, smaller relatives of rabbits and hares. (Wikipedia)

Whales vs. trade: Environmentalists push back against proposed port terminal in Delta
A proposed new marine container terminal in Delta, B.C., is facing
pushback from environmentalists who believe the project will threaten
whales and the salmon they depend on for survival. The Roberts Bank
Terminal 2 project would create 108 hectares of new industrial land and
build a new terminal with up to three berths for container ships.
According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the project will
generate 1,500 terminal jobs. An independent federal review panel is
currently considering arguments from industry and environmentalists.
Margot Venton, a lawyer with Ecojustice, an environmental law firm
fighting the case on behalf of environmental groups, said "the
relationship between salmon and whales is hitting a critical point" and
the project will exacerbate the problems already facing killer whales in
the Salish Sea. Bridgette Watson reports. (CBC)

Canadian, U.S Coast Guards practice working together in case of cross border oil spill
Adequate oil spill response is paramount to maintain the health of the
oceans. That’s why both the U.S and Canadian Coast guard, along with
their spill response partners, were practising their joint response
during a two-day simulated drill. They started in Port Angeles on
Wednesday and then on Thursday, they were in the Strait of Juan de
Fuca.... More than 5,000 deep sea vessels travel through the Salish Sea
in designated shipping lanes each year on both sides of the border.
Luisa Alvarez reports. (CHEK)

Trans Mountain: court to rule if B.C. can limit bitumen
A British Columbia court is set to rule Friday whether the province can
restrict shipments of diluted bitumen through its borders, in what will
be a crucial decision for the future of the Trans Mountain pipeline
expansion. The province filed a reference question to the B.C. Court of
Appeal that asked whether it had the constitutional authority to create a
permitting regime for companies that want to increase their flow of
oilsands crude. B.C. argued the law is aimed at protecting its lands,
rivers and lakes from hazardous substances, but Alberta and the federal
government have said the goal is to delay or block the pipeline
expansion. Laura Kane reports. (National)

Thousands of marine animals at risk in Pacific Northwest from Navy tech tests, documents show
The Navy’s latest testing and training proposal in the Northwest reveals
the secretive military branch’s futuristic technology and planned
war-game maneuvers. It also outlines how Navy sonar and explosives could
harm marine animals. The nearly 1,800-page document, two volumes of
Navy bureaucratese, details proposals to test the Navy’s rail-gun system
(it can fire projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound),
pilot mine-detecting underwater drones and fly its airborne surveillance
drone at 50,000 feet. Evan Bush reports. (Seattle Times)

Drought: low snowpack, dry weather a concern across B.C., prairies
Drought forecasts from Agriculture Canada show most of British Columbia
is abnormally dry or enduring some level of drought, similar to dry
conditions that are being experienced across a swath of Western Canada.
Snowpack levels in B.C. recorded on May 15 were similar to those in 2015
and 2016 and the B.C. River Forecast Centre says they are among the
lowest in the last 40 years. It also says diminished snowpacks and early
snow melt due to a warm spring increase the likelihood of low flows in
rivers and streams across the province this summer. (Canadian Press)

Stanford researchers outline vision for profitable climate change solution
A relatively simple process could help turn the tide of climate change
while also turning a healthy profit. That’s one of the hopeful visions
outlined in a new Stanford-led paper that highlights a seemingly
counterintuitive solution: converting one greenhouse gas into another.
A conceptual drawing of an industrial array for converting methane (CH4)
to carbon dioxide (CO2) using catalytic materials called zeolites (CUII
and FEIV). The study, published in Nature Sustainability on May 20,
describes a potential process for converting the extremely potent
greenhouse gas methane into carbon dioxide, which is a much less potent
driver of global warming. The idea of intentionally releasing carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere may seem surprising, but the authors argue
that swapping methane for carbon dioxide is a significant net benefit
for the climate. Rob Jordan reports. (Stanford News)

Port questions two companies’ deal to buy Kimberly-Clark site
Two maritime companies have announced a deal to buy most of
Kimberly-Clark’s former mill property, even as the Port of Everett
considers condemning the land for public use. Representatives for
Pacific Stevedoring and Glacier Fish Co. said Thursday they plan to buy
58 acres of the waterfront site for headquarters and operations. A cold
storage warehouse, facilities to prepare food for resale, and office
space would bring as many as 1,200 jobs to the waterfront, Pacific
Stevedoring owner Andrew Murphy and Glacier President Jim Johnson said.
Plans also include a working wharf. Noah Haglund reports. (Everett
Herald)

No-contact advisory issued for Pomeroy Park beach
A popular Puget Sound swimming beach is off limits ahead of the holiday
weekend because of high levels of bacteria in the water. The Kitsap
Public Health District issued a no-contact advisory on Thursday for
Pomeroy Park swimming beach in Manchester because of high levels of a
bacteria called Enterococci, according to a press release... Enterococci bacteria
indicate the presence of fecal pollution in the water, according to the
health district, but specific sources of such pollution have not yet
been identified. (Kitsap Sun)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
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Thursday, May 23, 2019

Kelp poacherAgonomalus mozinoi
The kelp poacher is a fish in the family Agonidae (poachers). It was described by Norman Joseph Wilimovsky and Donald Edward Wilson in 1979, originally under the genus Hypsagonus.
It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling fish which is known from
northern British Columbia, Canada to central California, USA, in the
eastern Pacific Ocean. (Wikipedia)

Battle over orca whale-watch restrictions heats up in San Juan County
An initiative has been filed to increase the distance whale-watch boats
must keep from endangered southern-resident orcas — followed immediately
by a lawsuit earlier this week from several whale-watch companies to
keep the measure off the ballot. The initiative is to voters in San Juan
County, and aimed for the November ballot to impose a new restriction
on whale-watch boats and other vessels effective Jan. 1. The initiative
would create a 650-yard vessel-free protected area around endangered
southern-resident orcas while the whales are in San Juan County waters,
with exemptions for law enforcement, research and treaty fishing boats.
Backers have until July 8 to get the 1,635 signatures they need to get
on the ballot. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Canada’s oil-loving Conservatives bet on climate change indifference
On the issue of climate change, Canada’s Conservatives comprise three
factions of skeptics. First are those who dismiss all talk of global
warming as mere left-wing alarmism, and therefore something that barely
matters at all. Second are those willing to concede the issue matters in
some abstract sense but who believe “addressing” it will extract too
high a cost on Canada’s economy. Third are those who think it’s worth
addressing but are skeptical the policies offered by Justin Trudeau’s
Liberal administration in particular will work. J.J. McCullough
reports. (Washington Post)

Canada to spend $15.7B on new coast guard ships, Trudeau says
Canada plans to build up to 18 new coast guard ships at a cost of $15.7
billion in an effort to renew Canada's Coast Guard fleet, Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. Up to 16 of the ships will
be constructed in a fleet renewal project anchored in Seaspan's
Vancouver Shipyards. Two others — Arctic patrol ships that will be
modified for the Canadian Coast Guard — will be built at Irving
Shipyards in Nova Scotia. Peter Zimonjic and Andrew Davidson report.
(CBC)

Groups to push back against plans for Tacoma gas plant
The fight over fracking is coming to Olympia Wednesday when the public
plans to push back against plans for a gas plant in Tacoma. Governor
Inslee used to support the plant, but he announced earlier this month
that he would oppose the liquefied natural gas plant, and he's
apparently not alone in the fight. The Puget Sound Energy “listening
session” on the plant is slated for 4:30 p.m., and groups such as the
Sierra Club are calling on the public to rally and pack the room to
voice opposition to the 8-million-gallon storage plant. (KIRO) See also:
'Deceptive solution' or bridge fuel? Fight over half-built LNG project continues in Tacoma. Bellamy Pailthorp and Kari Plog report. (KNKX)

Restoration work to continue on Leque Island
The state Department of Fish & Wildlife is preparing to begin the
second phase of restoration work this summer at its Leque Island
property near Stanwood. The island sits between Skagit Bay and Port
Susan along a side channel of the Stillaguamish River. Fish &
Wildlife is working on a restoration project to reopen estuary habitat,
where freshwater and saltwater mix. The first phase of the work was
completed in the fall of 2017. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley
Herald)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Taking Action for Bees
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Today, May 20, is World
Bee Day, which is why I’m sharing an image of some of these industrious
pollinators hard at work in my garden. The flower is Papaver somniferum,
a poppy species which self-sows freely each summer, thanks to the
effort of the many bees that visit our garden throughout the growing
season. World Bee Day was first proposed on the international stage by
Slovenia, and after three years of work by that nation and the world’s
beekeepers, it was proclaimed unanimously by the United Nations – giving
bees and other pollinators the recognition they deserve. You can learn
more about the initiative here ...."

Inslee signs $52.4 billion budget decried by Republicans
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed into law a $52.4 billion,
two-year state budget that he said "rises to the needs of our time," but
that minority Republicans quickly criticized as a "tax-and-spend home
run." To help fund the budget, Inslee also put his signature to a tax
package worth at least $830 million over the next two years. It will
raise taxes on big banks and other businesses, as well as end
point-of-sale tax-free shopping in Washington for Oregon residents. The
tax and spending bills were among dozens of pieces of legislation Inslee
signed Tuesday during a final round of bill signing ceremonies at the
Capitol following the 2019 legislative session. Austin Jenkins reports.
(NW News Network) See also: Inslee signs budget, tax bills and orders $175M more to help salmon
Gov. Jay Inslee, determined to put more money toward helping salmon
survival, on Tuesday directed the state to boost funding for
court-ordered culvert repairs by $175 million over the next two years.
Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Seattle Times)

Lummi Nation wants to feed endangered southern resident orcas
Following news that two more southern resident orcas are struggling, one
Washington tribe is calling on the federal government to help
physically feed them. Lummi Nation calls the southern resident orcas qwe
'lhol mechen, which means our relatives under the water. They say they
have a sacred obligation to take care of them and feed them like they
would any other member of their family. Simone Del Rosario reports.
(KCPQ)

Regulator investigating high gas prices in B.C. has power to examine gouging
British Columbia's independent energy regulator will have the power to
call oil company representatives as witnesses into an investigation of
high gasoline prices in the province. Premier John Horgan has tasked the
B.C. Utilities Commission to examine the market factors that affect
wholesale and retail gas prices, and he wants a report by Aug. 30. Gas
prices hovering around $1.70 per litre in the Metro Vancouver area have
been the highest in Canada for several months. (Canadian Press)

Reviving an outlawed fishery: 'the backbone of our Nation'
It was daybreak on a clear summer day. Nick Claxton stood at the boat
launch with other members of the WSÁNEĆ Nation. They were on Pender
Island, BC, at a W̱SÁNEĆ hereditary fishing location. The winds were
calm, recalled Claxton. "A perfect day for fishing." Their ocean-going
canoes were setting out onto the Salish Sea. They were ready to drop a
full-size reef net, for the first time in a century. Claxton, who is
from the Tsawout Band and is an assistant professor at the University of
Victoria, had been thinking about this moment for almost a decade. Zoe
Tennant reports. (CBC)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
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can unsubscribe at any time.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Creeping buttercupRanunculus repens
The creeping buttercup, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family
Ranunculaceae, native to Europe, Asia and northwestern Africa. It is
also called creeping crowfoot and (along with restharrow) sitfast. Like
most buttercups, Ranunculus repens is poisonous, although when dried
with hay these poisons are lost. The taste of buttercups is acrid, so
cattle avoid eating them. The plants then take advantage of the cropped
ground around it to spread their stolons. (Wikipedia)

Low snowpack, hot spring lead to drought declaration for nearly half of Washington state
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared drought Monday for nearly half of
Washington watersheds, as the mountain snowpack that churns through
hydropower dams, irrigates our state’s orchards and provides for fish
continues to dwindle well below normal. Twenty days into May, “our
statewide snowpack is the fourth-lowest it’s been over the past 30
years,” said Jeff Marti, the drought coordinator for the Washington
Department of Ecology. Winter left many areas of the state with
lower-than-normal snowpack. A hot, dry spring quickly zapped much of the
snow that did accumulate. Evan Bush reports. (Seattle Times) See also: Nooksack expected to be 25 percent below average. Here’s how the state is responding
A total of 24 Washington river watersheds — including the Nooksack, the
Upper Skagit, and the Lower Skagit-Samish — were included in the order,
which could spell trouble for farmers and residential users as well as
the salmon that require a constant supply of cold, clear water through
summer. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Rise in global sea levels could have 'profound consequences'
Scientists believe that global sea levels could rise far more than
predicted, due to accelerating melting in Greenland and Antarctica. The
long-held view has been that the world's seas would rise by a maximum of
just under a metre by 2100. This new study, based on expert opinions,
projects that the real level may be around double that figure. This
could lead to the displacement of hundreds of millions of people, the
authors say. Matt McGrath reports. (BBC)

E.P.A. Plans to Get Thousands of Deaths Off the Books by Changing Its Math
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to change the way it
calculates the health risks of air pollution, a shift that would make it
easier to roll back a key climate change rule because it would result
in far fewer predicted deaths from pollution, according to five people
with knowledge of the agency’s plans. The E.P.A. had originally forecast
that eliminating the Obama-era rule, the Clean Power Plan, and
replacing it with a new measure would have resulted in an additional
1,400 premature deaths per year. The new analytical model would
significantly reduce that number and would most likely be used by the
Trump administration to defend further rollbacks of air pollution rules
if it is formally adopted. Lisa Friedman reports. (NYTimes)

It’s a go! Ferries awards $26.4 million for marine contract
The new Mukilteo ferry terminal is finally getting its feet wet.
Washington State Ferries on Monday awarded a $26.4 million contract to
Seattle-based Manson Construction to build the marine structures for the
new terminal. These include the vehicle transfer bridge, overhead
pedestrian walkway and other components. It also covers demolishing the
old terminal and nearby fishing pier, and building a new fishing pier
closer to the ferry action. Andrea Brown reports. (Everett Herald)

A lumber company accused of polluting a Tacoma waterway has agreed to settle, EPA says
Manke Lumber has agreed to settle allegations it violated the Clean
Water Act at its Tacoma Tideflats facility, the Environmental Protection
Agency said Monday. Manke will pay a $320,000 penalty and build a
treatment system to fix water quality violations, the EPA said. The
company will also invest in a project that will designate 38 acres of
undeveloped land for conservation and recreation in Mason County. That
includes 1,500 feet of Goldsborough Creek, 580 feet of a tributary and a
20-acre riparian corridor. Alexis Krell reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-
241 AM PDT Tue May 21 2019
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY
W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.
Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon.
SW swell 6 ft at 12 seconds building to W 10 ft at 14 seconds in
the afternoon.
TONIGHT
W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt after
midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after
midnight. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
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Southern resident orca matriarch J17 continues to decline, new photos show
Concern is heightened for the survival of J17, an endangered southern
resident orca who is continuing to decline, new photos show. Researcher
John Durban, of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in his spring survey of the
southern residents detected further emaciation in J17 since his last
survey in fall 2018. The survey was conducted in conjunction with
Sealife Response, Rehabilitation and Research. The whale, a matriarch in
her clan, now has a pronounced “peanut head.” The condition indicates
severe loss of body fat, such that the whale’s neck shows. Her daughter,
J53, also has deteriorated since last fall, according to the body
condition survey, which is done non-invasively, by drone photography.
Lynda Makes reports. (Seattle Times)

Grey whale deaths on West Coast linked to warmer Arctic waters
Dozens of grey whales have been found dead along the West Coast in
recent weeks and some scientists believe the cause lies in the heated-up
Arctic waters off Alaska. Fifty-eight grey whales have been found
stranded and dead so far this year in sites stretching from California
to Alaska, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). The latest discovery announced on Wednesday by
NOAA was a dead grey whale in Turnagain Arm, a narrow glacier-fed
channel off Anchorage where grey whales rarely venture. (Reuters/CBC)

Vancouver Aquarium sues city, park board over cetacean ban
The Vancouver Aquarium is suing the city of Vancouver and the Vancouver
Park Board over the 2017 cetacean ban, claiming it resulted in millions
of dollars in lost revenue, and constituted a breach of contract. In May
2017, the Vancouver Park Board voted to amend a bylaw that would ban
bringing cetaceans into city parks, and prohibit shows and performances
involving cetaceans. The board also voted to ban the keeping of
cetaceans in city parks, with the exception of cetaceans already present
in the aquarium. Michelle Ghoussoub reports.(CBC)

‘Removing the Middle Fork Nooksack dam is one of the most important salmon restoration projects’
A small dam that channels Nooksack River water into Lake Whatcom will be
removed next year in an effort to help endangered salmon and, by
extension, southern resident killer whales, proponents said. The city of
Bellingham’s dam has been diverting water from the Nooksack’s Middle
Fork since 1962 to supplement its main source of water, which is Lake
Whatcom — the drinking water source for nearly 100,000 residents of
Bellingham and Whatcom County. The diversion is intermittent and occurs
primarily during winter and spring, the city of Bellingham said on the
project website. Located about 20 miles east of Bellingham, the dam will
be history in 2020. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Lawmakers hopeful for Puget Sound funding from Congress
Optimism, as related to a possible increase in funding for Puget Sound
recovery, permeated discussions last week, when 80 officials from the
region met with lawmakers in the nation’s capitol. “It’s the first time
in several years that we’ve actually been in a position to direct more
money to Puget Sound programs,” said U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig
Harbor, during one of many “Puget Sound Day on the Hill” meetings. With
Democrats now in control of the House, they can draft a budget that fits
their priorities for a host of projects — from civil rights legislation
to funding for climate change. Of course, the challenge will be to get
their issues through the Senate. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound
Institute)

Opposition grows for proposed mining in Skagit River headwaters
A Canadian company has proposed exploratory mining for gold and copper
in the headwaters of the Skagit River in British Columbia. Some
officials, tribes and conservation groups on both sides of the border
say the proposal threatens the environment of the Skagit River watershed
and that it violates an agreement — the High Ross Treaty — that has
been in place between the United States and Canada for 35 years. In the
latest show of opposition, a letter was sent Thursday to an official in
British Columbia’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
The letter was signed by officials and nonprofits. Kimberly Cauvel
reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

States aren’t waiting for the Trump administration on environmental protections
More than a dozen states are moving to strengthen environmental
protections to combat a range of issues from climate change to water
pollution, opening a widening rift between stringent state policies and
the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda.... The growing patchwork
of regulations is creating uncertainty for American businesses as state
lawmakers vie to change rules that, in past administrations, were more
likely to be set at the federal level. Brady Dennis and Juliet Eilperin
report. (Washington Post)

Hood Canal preservation gets another bump from Legislature
Thousands of pristine acres of timberland along Hood Canal have been
earmarked for preservation, thanks to $6.3 million from the
Legislature. The Dabob Bay natural area's latest expansion spreads some
4,000 acres east and south onto the Toandos Peninsula. The
Legislature's purchase guarantees 900 of those acres will be transferred
out of the state Department of Natural Resources' timber trust and into
conservation. The state will begin to pursue other properties within
the acreage, which spans from Dabob to Thorndyke Creek, according to
Peter Bahls, director of the Northwest Watershed Institute that has
fought to preserve the area since 2002. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap
Sun)

Ghost-net busters are entering a new era of hunting and removal
Chris Dunagan in Watching Our Water Ways writes: "My mind is
unable to grasp, in any meaningful way, how much death and destruction
was caused by fishing nets that were lost and abandoned through the
years. Nearly 6,000 of these so-called “ghost nets” have been pulled
from the waters of Puget Sound over the past 17 years. Until removed,
they keep on catching fish, crabs and many more animals to one degree or
another...."

Environmentalists say Alberta government war room threat “amateur hour”
Environmental groups targeted by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney are
shrugging off the new government’s promised $30-million “war room” to
fight criticisms of the province’s energy industry. “The war room makes
for good theatre, but the people who follow this closely are going to
look at this as amateur hour,” said Keith Stewart of Greenpeace. Bob
Weber reports. (National Post)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
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Friday, May 17, 2019

Priest Point Park
Priest Point Park is a 314-acre regional nature park on Budd Inlet in
Olympia. The land upon which Priest Point Park sits has been used for
generations by the Indigenous peoples of our region, which include the
Squaxin, Nisqually, Quinault, Puyallup, Chehalis, Suquamish, and
Duwamish. Priest Point Park is named for a small group of Catholic
missionaries, the Oblate Fathers, who came to the area in 1848. They
cleared the land, planted a large garden, built a chapel, and
established the St. Joseph d’Olympia mission. The Squaxin, Nisqually,
Puyallup, and Snoqualmie tribes used the mission as a trading center
during this time. (City of Olympia) Priest Point, a rocky point at the
northern entrance to the Snohomish River, was called Schuh-tlahks,
meaning "stony nose," by the Indians. The present name refers to a
Catholic mission established on the site in 1959. (Washington State
Place Names)

Seattle City Light agrees to provide water to mitigate wells
An agreement between Seattle City Light and the state Department of
Ecology will remove legal uncertainty over water use for hundreds of
homes in portions of Skagit and Snohomish counties. The electric utility
and state agency announced the agreement this week. Through the
agreement, Ecology is purchasing some of Seattle City Light’s senior
water rights, Ecology Water Resources Program Regional Supervisor Rita
Berns said. Seattle City Light will then continuously release 0.5 cubic
feet of water per second from Gorge Dam — the lowest of three
hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River — specifically to offset the
impact on the river by the use of area wells. Kimberly Cauvel reports.
(Skagit Valley Herald)

Where On Earth Is the Salish Sea?
Less than half of the people in Washington and British Columbia have
heard of the Salish Sea, even though they live alongside it. That’s
according to a recent report
from The SeaDoc Society, a program of the University of California,
Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine, and Oregon State University. The
study reveals that only 5 percent of people in Washington and 14 percent
of British Columbians can identify the Salish Sea—the marine ecosystem
that spans the United States-Canada border and includes both Seattle and
Vancouver. Ustin Cox reports. (UC Davis)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
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can unsubscribe at any time.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Blackeye Goby Rhinogobiops nicholsii
Found in harems on sandy bottoms close to rocks and holes for shelter,
in shallow to deep areas of the reefs. They feed on crustaceans and
invertebrates. True Gobies are found in oceans and some rivers and
lakes, usually in burrows or holes and can be territorial. They are able
to rapidly change colour when socialising or feel threatened. (What's
That Fish)

Senators defeat Ottawa’s oil tanker ban bill in rare move, putting legislation on life suppor
In a rare legislative move on Wednesday, the Senate transport committee
voted to defeat the Liberal government’s moratorium on oil tankers in
northern B.C., putting the controversial bill on life support after
years of political wrangling. A vote against the bill by Independent
Sen. Paula Simons, along with the five other Conservative senators on
the committee, swayed a final decision in favour of recommending that
the senate nix Bill C-48, which effectively bars any oil tankers from
entering northern B.C. waters. The move does not immediately kill the
oil tanker moratorium, but a vote by the senate to adopt the committee
recommendations would stop the legislation in its tracks. A vote on the
report is expected in coming days. Jesse Snyder reports. (National Post)

Public environmental assessment hearings underway on proposed Roberts Bank container terminal
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has kicked off the public
hearing process on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's proposed $2
billion to $3 billion Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project. The hearings,
which started Tuesday in Tsawwassen with motions on procedural matters,
are scheduled to last until June 24 in communities like Delta,
Vancouver, Victoria, Duncan and Port Renfrew. General hearings in
Tsawwassen began on Wednesday and will last until Saturday.... Brad
Armstrong, the lawyer representing the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority,
reiterated that the port authority does not project the number of
vessels to increase from the new terminal, citing an increase in vessel
size that will soak up the extra capacity of containers at Terminal 2:
"The number of vessels should stay relatively the same." Opponents were
less optimistic, noting Roberts Bank's growth of about 3.5% in the last
decade has been largely built on shipping U.S. containers, contradicting
the port's mandate as a catalyst for the Canadian economy. Other
opponents noted that a project like Terminal 2 that would install a
large man-made island at the mouth of the Fraser River - "the crucible
of the Fraser estuary" - should receive the widest-possible spectrum of
review possible, including options at DP World's Fairview terminal in
Prince Rupert. Chuck Chiang reports. (Business in Vancouver) See also: Prince Rupert port plans to quadruple capacity
The port of Prince Rupert plans to double its container capacity by
2020 and ultimately quadruple its capacity, sending a bold message as
fellow British Columbia port Vancouver grapples with its own plan to
inject much-needed handling capacity into its terminals. Bill
Mongelluzzo reports. (JOC)

Retired oil rigs off the California coast could find new lives as artificial reefs
Offshore oil and gas drilling has been a contentious issue in California
for 50 years, ever since a rig ruptured and spilled 80,000 to 100,000
barrels of crude oil off Santa Barbara in 1969. Today it's spurring a
new debate: whether to completely dismantle 27 oil and gas platforms
scattered along the southern California coast as they end their working
lives, or convert the underwater sections into permanent artificial
reefs for marine life. (Phys.org)

No simple answers for high B.C. gas prices or impact of pipeline, NEB says
There's no easy explanation for why B.C.'s gas prices are so much higher
than the rest of Canada, or what will happen to them if the Trans
Mountain pipeline expansion goes ahead, according to the National Energy
Board's chief economist. The NEB released a snapshot of the issue
Wednesday, breaking down the elements that have driven up the price at
the pumps in B.C. "It's a combination of numerous factors," chief
economist Jean-Denis Charlebois told CBC. "One factor is that we're
approaching the summer driving season. This means demand is increasing."
Bethany Lindsay reports. (CBC)

County considers island shellfish operation proposal
Some islanders contend that Tramp Harbor is not a suitable location to
operate a proposed commercial shellfish enterprise because the area is
both beloved for its natural beauty and recognized as an important
natural habitat. An application for the project, at 6 acres in size, was
filed in November by island produce farmer Nick Provo and is still
under review by the Department Of Local Services Permitting Division as
part of the SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) process. The bid will
need further appraisal from the county before a decision is made to
issue a permit and allow the development to proceed. Paul Rowley
reports. But before that happens, county officials will need to
determine if further action will be required to mitigate potential
issues at the location. (Vashon Beachcomber)

Green Energy Nudges Come With a Hidden Cost
All across the United States, many households receive energy bills
comparing their use to that of similar neighbors to remind them to use
less energy. At most companies, employees are automatically enrolled in
401(k) plans unless they choose to opt-out, helping employees easily
save for retirement. Such policies aim to "nudge" people toward making
better choices, both for their future selves and for others. Nudges like
these have become popular among policymakers, because they are
virtually costless to implement. However, a new study from researchers
at Carnegie Mellon, Fordham and Harvard universities finds that these
nudges have an unexplored cost: they can decrease support for policies
with far greater impact. "Although nudges can effectively change
behavior, most have too small an impact to address societal problems on
their own," said David Hagmann, a recent graduate of CMU's Department of
Social and Decision Sciences, and now a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard
University's Kennedy School of Government. "It appears that many people
view them as substitutes for economic policies like a carbon tax or
cap-and-trade scheme, instead of the complements they were always
intended to be." (Carnegie Mellon University)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-
250 AM PDT Thu May 16 2019
TODAY
E wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves
2 ft or less. SW swell 4 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of
showers in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT
W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt after midnight.
Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance
of showers in the evening then a chance of showers after
midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you
can unsubscribe at any time.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Pacific loonGavia pacifica
This loon is hardly "Pacific" in summer -- its breeding range extends
across northern Canada as far east as Hudson Bay and Baffin Island.
However, the great majority of these birds head west to the Pacific
Coast to spend the winter. Its diet includes fish, crustaceans, insects.
Diet varies with place and season. Apparently eats mostly small fish
when these are available, especially in winter and on ocean. Also eats
crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic insects, and some plant material,
especially during breeding season. (Audubon)

Garneau says he's open to amendments as opposition to B.C. tanker ban bill mounts
Transport Minister Marc Garneau told the Senate committee studying the
Liberal government's B.C. oil tanker ban bill today that he is open to
amendments to Bill C-48 as long as they preserve the bill's stated
purpose: to stop virtually all crude oil shipments from ports along
B.C.'s northern coast. Faced with criticism from industry, First Nations
and provincial leaders, Garneau did not rule out accepting amendments
from committee members — including a proposal that would demand a
mandatory review of the ban every 3, 5 and 10 years and a proposed
change that would tie the bill's enactment to completing the Trans
Mountain expansion project. As written, the legislation bans the vast
majority of crude oil shipments from the region indefinitely. John Paul
Tasker reports. (CBC)

Western red cedars die off as extended dry spells continue, say experts
Some Western red cedars are struggling after repeated periods of drought
and experts say the tree could vanish for good in spots with shallow,
dry, rocky soil if current climate patterns continue. When Nick Page
started posting pictures of dead Western red cedars that had turned from
verdant green to rust red he was overwhelmed by how many people chimed
in or sent more disturbing images. Page, a biologist, says this has been
long warned and predictions seem to be coming true in many parts of the
Lower Mainland. Trees on sunny slopes with poor soil are the first to
go. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Inslee signs bill to protect Blanchard Mountain core
With Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature last week, a plan to permanently
conserve recreation lands in the state forest on Blanchard Mountain is
one step closer to being realized. The plan is to transfer the trust
fund status of forests on Blanchard to forests in other areas of Skagit
County. This would ensure the local beneficiaries of those Blanchard
trust lands don’t lose timber revenue. Trust lands managed by Natural
Resources on Blanchard Mountain benefit local taxing districts,
including the Burlington-Edison School District, Skagit County Emergency
Medical Services and cemetery districts. Kimberly Cauvel reports.
(Skagit Valley Herald)

Puget Sound dam jeopardizing salmon, endangered orcas
The Green River is cut in half by two dams that keep adult salmon from
going upstream to spawn and juveniles from migrating down to the ocean.
The current state of one of the dams is threatening three endangered
species. The first dam has been blocking fish habitat for about a
century. Tacoma Headworks Diversion Dam east of Ravensdale is how the
City of Tacoma gets its water. Tacoma Water was tasked with building an
upstream trap-and-haul facility and finished construction in 2005. The
facility should allow Tacoma Water to transport adult salmon above its
dam and Howard A. Hanson Dam, which is three miles upstream. To this
day, that hasn't happened because the Howard Hanson dam is incomplete.
Simone Del Rosario reports. (KCPQ)

Plankton bloom spotted in Puget Sound between Tacoma and Edmonds
A large plankton bloom can be seen spread across Puget Sound from Tacoma
to Edmonds, the Washington Department of Ecology said. They tweeted out
photos taken from a helicopter over the non-toxic bloom. This bloom is
earlier than usual, the department said, but last week's sunny weather
provided the algae with a better environment to grow. (KING)

It was 84 degrees near the Arctic Ocean this weekend as carbon dioxide hit its highest level in human history
Over the weekend, the climate system sounded simultaneous alarms. Near
the entrance to the Arctic Ocean in northwest Russia, the temperature
surged to 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius). Meanwhile, the
concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere eclipsed 415 parts per
million for the first time in human history. By themselves, these are
just data points. But taken together with so many indicators of an
altered atmosphere and rising temperatures, they blend into the
unmistakable portrait of human-induced climate change. Saturday’s steamy
84-degree reading was posted in Arkhangelsk, Russia, where the average
high temperature is around 54 this time of year. The city of 350,000
people sits next to the White Sea, which feeds into the Arctic Ocean’s
Barents Sea. Jason Samenow reports. (Washington Post)

Dog dies after exposure to toxin at Anderson Lake
A dog that was exposed to a toxin in the water at Anderson Lake has died
and its owner was exposed. The death Sunday was the third dog death
recorded since 2006, when two died and forced weekly testing of the lake
the following year. Clue, an Australian kelpie less than 2 years old,
was on a leash on the trail system Sunday when she made contact with the
water. Brian McLean reports.(Peninsula Daily News)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
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can unsubscribe at any time.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Woodland strawberryFragaria vesca
Woodland strawberry is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Rose family
that grows naturally throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, and
that produces edible fruits.
It is a species of openings and open forests, at low to subalpine
elevations south of about 55-degrees north. It is tolerant of a variety
of moisture levels (except very wet or dry conditions). It can survive
mild fires and/or establish itself after fires. (Wikipedia, Plants of
the Pacific Northwest Coast)

Inslee, Ferguson denounce EPA move to ease water standards for Washington state
The Environmental Protection Agency proposes to ease Washington
water-quality standards for chemicals discharged into state waterways, a
move embraced by industry groups that sought the change and denounced
as “illegal” by Gov. Jay Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
The action, disclosed Friday, reverses a 2016 decision by the EPA under
the Obama administration that required the state to toughen the
water-quality standard. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Millions to be spent on oil spill cleanup at Tumwater brewery
An effort to clean up an oil spill that originated in a damaged
transformer at the former Tumwater brewery nearly two months ago has
become too expensive for Tumwater Development LLC, the owner of the
property. The state Department of Ecology announced late last week that
the state would take over the clean up effort. It has cost the brewery
owner an unspecified amount, although both a communications
representative for the owner and ecology officials said the cost was in
the millions of dollars. Ecology spokeswoman Sandy Howard said Monday
the owner “has run out of funds at the moment.” However, she said the
owner “showed good faith” and “accomplished a lot” before the state took
over last week. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

Science in the spotlight: Eelgrass recovery
The Washington Department of Natural Resources is studying new ways of
increasing ecologically important eelgrass habitat in Puget Sound. It is
part of the state's effort to boost eelgrass 20% Sound-wide by 2020. So
far, the species has fallen short of that goal but transplanting
efforts are showing promise. Eric Wagner reports. (Encyclopedia of Puget
Sound)

California jury says Bayer must pay $2 billion to couple in Roundup cancer trial
A California jury on Monday awarded more than $2 billion to a couple who
claimed Bayer AG’s glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused their
cancer, marking the third consecutive U.S. jury verdict against the
company in litigation over the chemical. The jury in San Francisco
Superior Court in Oakland said the company was liable for plaintiffs
Alva and Alberta Pilliod’s contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a
spokeswoman for the couple said. It awarded $18 million in compensatory
and $1 billion in punitive damages to Alva Pilliod and $37 million in
compensatory and $1 billion in punitive damages to his wife, Alberta
Pilliod. The jury found Roundup had been defectively designed, that the
company failed to warn of the herbicide’s cancer risk and that the
company acted negligently. Tina Bellon reports. (Reuters)

For Sea Anemones, Global Warming and Microplastics Have Teamed Up to Make Everything Worse
Climate change and plastic pollution are major threats to all marine
life, from minuscule crustaceans to gigantic whales. Although many
experiments have examined these threats, few have looked at what happens
when they both strike at once. At least for the sea anemone, new
research from a team at the Carnegie Institution for Science in
Stanford, California, suggests that the combined threat is worse than
the sum of its parts. Hannah Thomasy reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
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can unsubscribe at any time.

Monday, May 13, 2019

Buried anemoneAnthopleura artemisia
This species can be found in areas of muddy sand and also on rockier
beaches where there are areas of gravel or shell fragments. Normally
only the oral disk and tentacles are visible with the column buried
beneath the substrate. The crown of tentacles may reach a diameter of 4
inches (10 cm.)with the tentacles colored pink, orange, green, blue, or
brown and in our area often display banding. When waters recede, the
tentacles withdraw below the surface. (Sound Water Stewards)

Canada: Sanctuaries and food for our endangered killer whales
Canada has announced big-scale measures to safeguard and feed endangered
killer whales in the Salish Sea, a day after Gov. Jay Inslee signed
into law measures to protect endangered orcas on the U.S. side of the
border. The Canadians, in measures announced Friday, put a lot of
emphasis on slowing down ships, establishing vessel-free "sanctuary
zones" and keeping all boats 400 meters (1,300-plus feet) away from the
endangered whales.... Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
is also undertaking to put food in the water for the southern residents.
The orcas are an endangered species dependent on another endangered
species -- chinook salmon. The DFO will release one million juvenile
chinook salmon annually from its Chilliwack Hatchery along the Fraser
River, for the next five years. Joel Connelly reports. (SeattlePI) See
also: Ships must keep 400 metres away from killer whales off B.C. coast
Laura Kane reports. (Canadian Press)May heat shrinks Washington snowpack, raising risk for tight water flows for fish and farmers
The Pacific Northwest is again experiencing surging spring heat that
shattered temperatures this past week and prompted red-flag warnings for
fire risks in lowland portions of Southwest Washington. Last year,
intense May warmth brought a sudden melt of a big mountain snowpack,
causing flooding in north central and northeast Washington as the
Okanogan River reached its highest flood stage in four decades. This
year, the statewide snowpack, as of Friday, averaged only 58 percent of
the median amount for that date. So instead of being concerned about
high water, state officials are preparing for summer drought, which can
raise the potential for wildfires, reduce irrigation flows to farmers
and make life difficult for salmon that depend on cool water to survive.
Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Canada-U.S. border transfers raise fear of delayed crossings
Hundreds of border agents from across the U.S. are being temporarily
transferred south ahead of the busy summer tourism season, worrying
those along the northern border who rely on cross-border commerce —
including U.S. innkeepers, shop owners and restaurateurs who fear their
Canadian customers could be caught in backups at border crossings. U.S.
Customs and Border Protection says 731 northern border agents from land,
sea and airports are in the process of being sent to the U.S.-Mexico
border, where they will help their southern counterparts handle the
influx of families and unaccompanied children from Central America. The
move comes as businesses gear up for the summer season, when tens of
thousands of Canadian tourists help buoy the economies of communities in
border states and elsewhere deeper inside the United States. Since
U.S.-Canada border security was ramped up shortly after the 9-11
attacks, local and state officials have worried heightened security
could hurt trade and the free flow of people back and forth across the
5,525-mile (8,891-kilometre) border. Wilson Ring reports. (Canadian
Press)

State official supports delisting wolves in all Washington
Wolves should be removed from the federal endangered species list
throughout Washington state, Washington Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly
Susewind wrote in a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
released this week.... The federal government has already delisted
wolves in the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, as well as in
Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Wolves were wiped out in Washington early in
the last century, largely on behalf of livestock interests. The animals
began moving back into the state about 20 years ago from neighboring
Idaho and British Columbia. The state in 2018 counted a minimum of 126
wolves in 27 packs with 15 successful breeding pairs, defined as male
and female adults that have raised at least two pups that survived
through the end of the year. The latest census also for the first time
recorded a wolf pack west of the Cascade Range, in Skagit County.
Nicholas K. Geranios reports. (AP)

North Dakota to sue Washington state over oil train standard
North Dakota is preparing to sue Washington state over a new Washington
law requiring oil shipped by rail through that state to have more of its
volatile gases removed, which supporters say would reduce the risk of
explosive and potentially deadly derailments. North Dakota officials say
the law will make Pacific Northwest refineries off-limits to the energy
industry of North Dakota, which is the nation’s No. 2 crude producer.
They are also reaching out to other oil-producing states to garner
support for the lawsuit, which they expect to file within weeks in
federal court. Blake Nicholson reports. (AP)

Alcoa’s Intalco smelter agrees to reduce pollution emissions. Here’s what that means
Alcoa’s aluminum smelter near Ferndale has agreed to a plan to install
pollution equipment that will reduce sulfur dioxide releases. Washington
State’s Department of Ecology announced last week that Alcoa Intalco
Works has agreed to put in a wet scrubber to reduce emissions of the
gas, which is known for its sharp smell that can cause breathing and
other health issues. The cost of the scrubber installation project is
estimated to be $15 million, and it is expected to be in place by the
end of 2022, according to a news release from Alcoa. ave Gallagher
reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Sandra Staples-Bortner to retire from Great Peninsula Conservancy
Sandra Staples-Bortner, executive director of the Great Peninsula
Conservancy, will retire at the end of this month after 11 years on the
job. Those involved in the regional land trust say she will leave the
organization much larger and stronger than before her arrival. Great
Peninsula Conservancy — which protects salmon streams, forests and
shorelines — was formed in 2000 by the merger of four smaller land
trusts: Kitsap, Hood Canal, Indianola and Peninsula Heritage land
trusts. Chris Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways)

Party City closing 45 stores as helium shortage hurts sales. Why is the gas scarce?
The CEO of Party City cited a global helium shortage as he announced on
Thursday that the retail chain will close 45 of its 870 stores this
year. But the scarcity of the important gas isn’t just a party-pooper:
Helium is also essential in semiconductor manufacturing, scientific
research and medical tools like MRIs, according to Sophia E. Hayes, a
professor of chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
“We’ve heard that we have roughly a 200-year supply, at current
consumption rates,” Hayes said in a statement released by the university
last month. “That sounds pretty comforting, because 200 years sounds
like a big window. But the demand for helium is also going up at 10
percent a year, roughly, worldwide — in part driven by the semiconductor
industry out of Asia.” Jared Gilmour reports. (McClatchy)

Canada-geese numbers to increase despite limited control measures
The number of Canada geese are likely to grow incrementally this summer
despite measures by the Vancouver park board to control their spread
into city beaches and parks. There are about 2,500 Canada geese in
Vancouver, according to Nick Page, biologist with the Vancouver park
board. The main method of population control is sterilizing eggs by
shaking a fertilized one and then replacing it with a frozen one to
trick the mother to continue nesting. If all the Canada geese paired up,
there could be as many as 1,250 nests around the city, but the park
board has so far addled about 50 nests and 255 eggs. Kevin Griffin
reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Mariana Trench: Deepest-ever sub dive finds plastic bag
An American explorer has found plastic waste on the seafloor while
breaking the record for the deepest ever dive. Victor Vescovo descended
nearly 11km (seven miles) to the deepest place in the ocean - the
Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench. He spent four hours exploring the bottom
of the trench in his submersible, built to withstand the immense
pressure of the deep. He found sea creatures, but also found a plastic
bag and sweet wrappers. Rebecca Morelle reports. (BBC)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you
can unsubscribe at any time.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Blackbelly eelpoutLycodopsis pacifica
Found in Eastern Pacific Gulf of Alaska to northern Baja California,
Mexico, on silty or sandy bottoms. Moves into shallow water at night to
feed on marine worms, crustaceans, small bivalves, and brittle stars.
Few live over 5 years. If used live as bait, it attracts large
rockfishes, greenlings or codfishes. Flesh considered good but not
esteemed. (Discover Life)

Tracking endangered Steelhead producing answers and more questions about their long-term survival
With giant buckets of cold Nisqually River water and some smaller bins
to hold fish, Megan Moore is assembling a field surgical ward outside of
the small town of Yelm.,,, But Moore is no surgeon. She’s a research
biologist with NOAA’s Fisheries Office in Seattle. This set up is a
spring ritual along the fast moving and pristine river for more than a
decade now. And her patients: endangered steelhead. Steelhead and salmon
are not only big business in Washington State, many species are also in
big trouble. But, each year scientists are starting to uncover clues to
turning that trend around. Thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to
our state economy hang in the balance. Tim Joyce reports. (KCPQ)

Underwater microphones show how noisy it is for orcas in Puget Sound
Southern Resident killer whales use clicks and sound to find their prey,
the majority of which are Chinook salmon. The signal bounces of a
fish's swim bladder like a radar, which helps the orcas know exactly
where their prey is located. Sometimes those fish are hundreds of meters
away. The hunt gets even more challenging as Chinook salmon stocks
continue to decline. Now, add in all the noisy vessels in between the
whales and the few Chinook salmon that remain. Scott Viers is the
coordinator of OrcaSound's hydrophone network.
https://www.orcasound.net/ The underwater acoustic monitoring system
records in real time the underwater noise around Puget Sound. Alison
Morrow reports. (KING)

Can volunteer trappers halt the green crab invasion in Puget Sound?
The war against the invasive European green crab continues in Puget
Sound, as this year’s Legislature offers increased financial support,
and new trapping sites have been added in Samish and Port Gamble bays.
In other parts of the country where green crabs have become established,
the invaders have destroyed native shoreline habitat, diminished native
species and cost shellfish growers millions of dollars in damages. See
Environmental Protection Agency report (PDF 1.3 mb).
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-12/documents/ee-0513-01.pdf
In Puget Sound, it’s hard to know whether the crabs are being trapped
and removed rapidly enough to defeat the invasion, but so far humans
seem to be holding their own, according to Emily Grason, who manages the
Crab Team volunteer trapping effort for Washington Sea Grant. Chris
Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways) See also: ‘Raving mad crabs’ spotted at Esquimalt Lagoon DFO laying traps for invasive European green crabs. Swikar Oli reports. (Victoria News)

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe eyes marina on Sequim Bay
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is exploring the purchase of John Wayne
Marina from the Port of Port Angeles — if other options do not work out —
Tribal Chairman Ron Allen said Thursday. The tribe now is working with
the city of Sequim on a joint proposal to run the public, 300-slip
facility under city ownership. Under the joint city-tribe proposal, the
port would transfer the marina to the city “at no or very low cost,”
according to an April 23, 2018, City Council resolution, and the tribe
would manage it. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Low Ross Lake levels to impact summer recreation
As abnormally dry conditions continue, Skagit River water reserves are
now forecast to reach uncharacteristic lows this summer. Seattle City
Light, which operates three hydroelectric dams on the upper Skagit
River, recently announced it anticipates its largest reservoir, Ross
Lake, will see water levels 25 feet lower than normal this summer.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource
Conservation Service, which compiles state water supply outlook reports,
water levels in the Skagit River may dip to about 77 percent of normal
over the summer. Seattle City Light doesn’t anticipate impacts to the
water supply. However, recreation around the man-made lake tucked in the
North Cascades will be impacted, according to the utility and North
Cascades National Park Service Complex. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit
Valley Herald)

This Week Then: I-5 Turns 50
Fifty years ago this week, on May 14, 1969, the final segment of
Interstate 5 in Washington opened for traffic between Marysville and
Everett, allowing motorists to travel without interruption from the
Canadian border to the California state line. The new freeway also
helped boost the development of Washington cities along its route,
including Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Arlington, Marysville, Everett,
Lynnwood, Seattle, Federal Way, Tacoma, Olympia, Centralia, Chehalis,
Longview, and Vancouver. Alan Stein writes. (HistoryLink.org/Seattle
Magazine)

Chambers Creek resort lease approved by Pierce County Council
It was never going to be an easy vote. Five and a half hours after
convening, the Pierce County Council voted 6-1 in favor of the county
executive entering into a long-term ground lease with Chambers Bay
Resort, LLC, for the development of a hotel and resort on a portion of
Chambers Creek Properties. Council member Connie Ladenburg was the lone
“no” vote. Before the vote, she offered a lengthy challenge to the
measure, pointing to the council’s lack of information, particularly
from the project’s financial standpoint, to make an adequate decision.
She also offered survey results that showed an overwhelming negative
response to the idea of people living in golf villas in the park. Debbie
Cockrell reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Sea Cucumbers Keep Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’
It’s an odd line to hear, that the sea cucumbers “wouldn’t settle down.”
But that curious observation, made in the lab of Memorial University of
Newfoundland professor and biologist Annie Mercier, set the stage for
the discovery of a wholly unexpected mode of locomotion in orange-footed
sea cucumbers. These creatures, which look something like
20-centimeter-long footballs with a cluster of branch-like tentacles at
one end, were long thought to live sedentary lives. However, Mercier’s
new laboratory research shows that, when under duress, the orange-footed
sea cucumber will release its grip from the ocean floor, pump itself
full of water, and roll away. To make its great escape, the invertebrate
absorbs water through both its mouth and anus. Doug Johnson reports.
(Hakai Magazine)

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service
by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@)
salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you
can unsubscribe at any time.

About Me

Salish Sea Communications provides communications and public relations services that raise visibility and engage audiences. Drawing on over 30 years experience in private, public and not-for-profit work, Mike Sato brings to you his skills and insights in developing and carrying out your print, electronic and social media projects and products. "I've been in the communications business since 1977 starting with community weekly newspapers then working for Seattle City Light, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Hawaiian Electric Company and, for 20 years, People For Puget Sound." Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told. WA State UBI #601395482